It's a wrap: News this week (Oct 18-24)

There have been multiple developments this week on the tech front. From AWS outage to MeitY’s new notification, here is a list of the most important updates for a quick catch-up:

AWS outage that disrupted the world

On Monday, Amazon Web Services (AWS) had an outage that stopped thousands of websites and apps for a few hours. The problem came from a DNS issue in AWS’s DynamoDB service, which helps apps find the right servers. A recent update to DynamoDB’s API at AWS’s Virginia data center caused the issue, preventing apps from connecting to the database.

Popular apps like Reddit, Snapchat, and Duolingo all faced disruptions. Several major platforms Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and trading app Robinhood reported service issues. Amazon’s own services, such as its shopping site, Prime Video, and Alexa, were impacted. 

IIT Madras, Applied Materials India partner

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has expanded its partnership with Applied Materials India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Applied Materials, Inc., to advance semiconductor research and workforce training.

As part of this collaboration, IIT Madras will deploy the foundational software framework of Applied Materials’ AppliedTwin platform, a digital twin technology that models and optimizes semiconductor manufacturing equipment and processes.

The partnership supports IIT Madras’ plan to set up a semiconductor fabrication facility in collaboration with the Government of Tamil Nadu. It will help researchers use digital tools to simulate and analyse semiconductor process parameters before building physical systems.

Appiness acquires San Francisco-based AI firm

Bengaluru-based technology consulting company Appiness Interactive Private Limited has acquired iLumaLab, an artificial intelligence (AI) services firm based in San Francisco and founded by AI specialist Patrik Šlachta.

The deal supports Appiness’s AI Centre of Excellence (AI-CoE) initiative, which focuses on developing and applying AI solutions for businesses. It also marks the company’s expansion into the North American market as part of its global growth strategy.

The company said iLumaLab was chosen for its experience in building customised AI solutions that combine automation, data intelligence, and user-focused design. The acquisition will add new innovation and experimental capabilities to Appyverse, Appiness’s AI ecosystem that aims to help organisations adopt and use AI effectively.

MeitY’s notification on AI-generated content

On October 22, 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) proposed draft amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, aiming to combat the misuse of AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes.

These proposed changes mandate that synthetic media such as AI-generated videos, images, and audio, be clearly labeled with visible or audible markers covering at least 10% of the visual content or the initial 10% of audio playback. Additionally, platforms must require users to declare whether their uploaded content is AI-generated and implement technical systems to verify these declarations.